EDITOR'S TABLE. 



195 



sues of the present year. We should be glad to illus- 

 ■ate, for the tirst time in agricultural science, the microsco- 

 ic organs through which a quart of milk is separated from 

 ]e blood of a first-rate cow, every hour of the day and 

 lit, for months togetlier ; and to enable us to make such 



ustrations. and otliers needed to explain animal physiolo- 

 y, we desire subsfriptions to the Farmer for six months, 

 f no longer.) at tiventy-Jive cents each. For the sum 

 amed, the subscriber will receive the Es^ay complete in 



e Farmeii, from July to December inclusive. \Thatever 

 loney we may receive for extra copies, will be expended 



illustrate both the science and the art of improving the 

 omesticated animals of the United States. 



Wire Fence. — At a recent meeting of the Farmers 

 'lub, in New York city, a conversation arose on the sub- 

 ct of Wire Fence: Prof. JMates said he had tried wire 

 Uly, and could not keep a fence in order unless there was 

 )me plan tixed by the manufacturer to compensate for the 

 hange in temperature of a single day. 



Paul Stillman related his experience to the same effect. 

 Vickersiiam's fence, that was made to screw up tight 

 as very handsome when first built, but it did not last. He 

 iw much wire fence in California, but none of it lasted 

 ood over a year. A common plan there, was to mend 

 ire fences with raw hide ; that gave a little spring to 

 junteract the contraction. 



Solon Kouinson gave a description of a wire fence 

 uilt by Cul. CArRON, between Baltimore and Washing- 



n, 3,300 feet long, which was made fast to a well-braced 

 kOSt at one end, and at the other to a bar and spiral springs, 

 He bar being attached to a chain that passed over a drum, 

 *ith a lever and weight so arranged that the wires were 

 Kwajsatthe same degree of tension, no matter what was 



le state of the atmosphere. 



Mr. Cowley, agent of the Lowell Wire Fence Compa- 

 f, exhibited specimens of their fence, which is made by a 

 latent process to resemble netting of twine. This is sold 

 •r $1.50 to 2.00 a rod, 3.J feet wide. The objection made 

 » it by Prof. Mapes and several others is, that it has four 

 oriaontal wires that will be liable to the trouble of con- 

 raction and expansion. If that is not an objection, it is a 

 neap, good fence. 



Gutta percha or India rubber must be combined with 

 le tension of wires at every fastening, to obviate the ex- 

 ansion and contraction, to an injurious degree, of length- 

 ned iron rods. 



Next to the making of good books, there is nothing 

 lore praiseworthy and deserving of encouragement than 

 le effort to bring them within the means of all to pur- 

 hase. In this view we could name several firms who have 

 one much to benefit the agricultural interests by their 

 ablications, and we notice particularly the publications 

 f C. M. Saxton, of New York. Every kind and de- 

 iription of works on Agriculture, Horticulture, and Flo- 

 culture, can be hid upon application, at very reasonable 

 rices. We had the pleasure recently of spending a little 

 jne in his bookstore. No. 152 Fulton st., and were grati- 



fied to find that the prospective demand for agricultural 

 works bid fair to become one of great importance. When 

 Mr. S. announced his present vocation, years elapsed be- 

 fore remunerating sales could be made. The demand for 

 such works had to be created, before booksellers would 

 take them on their shelves, and even now hardly one out of 

 four of the tillers of the soil take the pains to read a good 

 book on their profession ; but it is encouraging to know 

 that there are ten readers now to one but a few years since* 

 and by the influence of the agricultural press, we doubt 

 not that ten years hence, hundreds will be readers and doers 

 too, to one at the present time. 



The rei:d ng of any work is not the measure of its util- 

 ity, unless the mind of the reader labors in unison with the 

 mind of the author, either to examine the grounds of any 

 given statement, or the consequences which follow from 

 the adoption of any given theory. But one can hardly read 

 a good author without deriving benefit thereby, and hence 

 we say thanks are eminently due the makers and publish- 

 ers of useful books, for whatever class they may be de- 

 signed. 



AoRicuLTURAr, Boors and Schools. — Mr. C. G. F., 

 of Newburgh, asks us in a letter to name agricultural 

 books to the amount of $15 or $20, which may be bought 

 and studied by him to the best advantage ; and he also de- 

 sires to know where is the best school for him to attend to 

 learn agricultural chemistry, geology, and botany. 



It is easier to name the books than the school which he 

 needs. The works of Liebio. Johnston, Boussinqault, 

 Fox, and other American authors, are the best known in 

 this country from which to learn the principles of agricul- 

 tural science ; and they may all be bought for some $15. 

 On fruit culture, the works of Barrt, Thomas, and Down- 

 ing, are perhaps the best in the English language. 



We know of no school that will suit tHfe notions of our 

 youthful correspondent. 



The Reciprocity Treaty. — The following remarks 

 of the Newark Advertiser, are copied approvingly, and 

 are going the rounds of the American press in reference to 

 the free importation of breadstufFs and provisions from 

 Canada into the United States: 



*' The Reciprocity Treaty has had a fortunate beginning. 

 A fairer field to test its qualities could not be desised. 

 Canadian grain and provis:ons are all wanted, and few will 

 be out of temper if both, especialiv at the present mo- 

 ment, should arrive in abundance. NVe are in the midst of 

 a short supply of almost all things edible. This has been 

 the work of several years, till an absolute dearth is upon 

 U3. * * * * 



" We need help in this emergency from somewhere, and 

 the agricultural products of Canada come in opportunely 

 just at this time. TRey are seasonable to save us not only 

 from higher prices, but well-nigh from absolute uaiit. M"e 

 have not land enough, it seems, on this side of the water to 

 produce our own food, and so, till more can he annexed or 

 sometliing can be done by our own countrymen to keep us 

 from starvation, we shall be willing that other men may 

 do it. If there is real danger of the continuance of the 

 present exorbitance of prices, or any thing like it, even Cu- 

 ba, if it only turned out cattle and flour, instead of sugar 

 and tobacco, might be welcome to the Confe-^'eracy.^. Any 

 port in a storm, and any market in a famine,"^ 



